Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater SPL Meter Measurement

I haven't bought an SPL meter yet largely because I didn't have a clue how I would use it.

After reading your post I feel I could easily do it. Nice job on explaining it.

Thank you, Ken. Nice of you to say so. I didn't think I did a particularly good job, but I'm glad you felt differently.

Ajax thanks.I did follow another post on calibration which came out very close to my amp. You explained it great. I see that when I crank up some tunes they approach 90 on peaks. I may cut back a little on that . I think Randy posted a chart on a thread on db levels and max hours before ear damage.

Ajax i just found the article off the thread. Here they say to check volume by A setting (that's where my confusionwiththe dial and the zero came in) If I use what you said c and slow and then use A and slow The C reading is substantially Louder....What to do?? Not sure i understand the difference in A and C weighting I guess it's in the range of sound (Higher tones?) Thanks for any clarification...Here's the link
http://audiophilia.com/hardware/spl.htm

From The article:
While simulating the volume level of a large rock band or full symphony orchestra in your listening room can be a lot of fun, remember to keep an eye on those SPL's to ensure that they are within safe levels. The following table from the U.S. Department of Labor (also included in the excellent documentation accompanying the Radio Shack sound pressure level meter) gives data on permissible sound level exposure.
To use the Radio Shack sound pressure level meter to ensure that you're listening to your system at a safe level, first set the meter's weighting and response switches to the 'A' and 'SLOW' positions respectively. Play some music on your system at your normal listening level (no cheating now!) and adjust the setting on the meter's rotary dial such that the average reading is around 0dB. Note that a setting which is too low will tend to "peg" the needle to the right, possibly damaging the meter. Given an average reading of 0dB, your measured listening level is given by the setting of the meter's dial. For example, if the meter has an average reading of about 0dB and the dial is set to about 90dB, then your listening level is about 90dB. According to the table above, you can safely listen at this level for about eight hours per day, although I would use this table merely as a guide and let common sense prevail. Making a habit of using the sound pressure level meter to measure the average sound level of your system at each listening session is a simple way to ensure that no harm will come to your hearing through regular use of your audio system.

Anybody buy a meter in Canada? If so, where? Radio Shack (now circuit city) doesn't sell them here.

Sorry, not meant to be a hijack.

A is for 500-10,000 HZ (voice recordings)

C is for 32-10,000 HZ (full range musical material)

You normally want to us C IZUB...

Thanks SirQ and Ajax that explains it clearly....Just curious Does anyone listen to loud music?dvd in the 90 db or above level? That's what I get sometimes in intermittent readings (A max on the meter)

Radio Shacks carried them last time I looked (about 6 months ago in Toronto, or whenever they became The Source). They were out of stock about half the time, and if you asked the staff they would assure me they had never sold SPL meters.

Always a big surprise when I brought them up to the counter

I have to admit, I can't find the SPL meters on the Source web site. Then again, I couldn't find it on the Radio Shack site either.

Does anyone know if the Source was able to keep getting access to Tandy/RS's house brands, or did they have to find new sources for everything ? If the latter, I guess you're driving to Buffalo.

If you're in Toronto, you can borrow my meter.

EDIT - whoops, you're in Thunder Bay.

I bought the floor model because they were out of stock They extended the warranty to 5 years....

I agree the RS or Source SPL meter is not online or in hard copy. But I did find these on the 'net.
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